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Behind Closed Doors cover art

Behind Closed Doors

By: Sue Smethurs, Katherine X
Narrated by: Caroline Lee
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Publisher's Summary

Four children by her father.

Thirty years of horrific sexual abuse.

In March 2009, Joseph Fritzl was sentenced to life in jail for the systematic imprisonment, torture and rape of his daughter, Elisabeth, over 24 years, fathering seven children. The case shocked the world.

But just a month before, the story of Australia’s own house of horrors was emerging in a Victorian country town.

Under a blanket of suppression orders, a man in his late 60s was quietly arrested, charged - and later convicted - for the systematic rape, abuse and imprisonment of his only daughter, 'Katherine', which spanned decades. He fathered four of her children.

Until now, this shocking story has been buried under a complex legal web and Katherine’s insistence on silence so that she could rebuild her shattered life and protect her children. In Behind Closed Doors, written with Sue Smethurst, Katherine breaks her silence and tells the story of how she survived - and how such degrading abuse went unnoticed for so long.

©2015 Sue Smethurst and Katherine X (P)2016 Bolinda

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Behind Closed Doors

Tears I cried for this poor girl and her siblings and children whilst my heart, too, exploded over and I here and over again.
You captured the rawness and depths of tragic despair so completely that I felt like I was right in the middle of the nightmare. If only someone had listened to her much much earlier.
Please pass on my love and sincerest wishes for a life without pain hurt and cruelty from herronin.

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Loved it

The story kept me intrigued Throughout the whole book. Narrator showed emotion while reading and made me really feel some of the emotions that were intended. Well worth the read (listen)

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  • 01-09-2021

OMG

riviting horrible truth of a neglected life .. I am so glad Kathryn escaped her father finally and can now move on with a degree of normalcy for her self and her boys

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Amazing

Incredible read, such an awful story to listen, felt immensely sorry for what she had to endure during her life, and that it was at the hands of her own Father.

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Brilliant true story

I absolutely loved this book and would highly recommend it to anyone who is interested to listen

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Fantastically written tragic story

I have just finished this book and feel that I am intruding into a tragic life story. So very sad that this beautiful lady’s life has been ruined by a monster that is her father. I could be friends with this lady- it touched my heart and soul to the core

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Mirror Image

Absolutely loved this book. was quite confronting for me to listen to because my sorry is eerily similar to your own. Your choice of words when describing things is also unsettlingly similar to my own. I moved from one abusive family life to another and have in the past described it exactly as you did, out of the frying pan and into the fire.
Spooky.
Also just your father's general behaviours, demeaner and psychological history is crazy similar to my own father's. I suppose it does paint a picture of depravity and dysfunction well before they became the men who chose to abuse their own children in this way.
I am writing my own autobiography about my journey at the moment and this written piece as well as being an inspiration for me has emboldened me to feel brave enough to do it.
Well done girl, good on you.

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powerful

an inspiring and uplifting story of courage and hope, told with brutal honesty and grace. a must read

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what a amazing story A++

5 Stars great Australian story well read as well , i was so brave of the victim to tell her story and for that i thank you ❤️️❤️️

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Unimaginable Life

Incredible story, there but for the grace of God. My heart goes out to "Katherine", what a brave woman you are. I hope you and your boys and your brother's can live a happy, carefree life

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In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.